Debra Self

The Line in the Form - The Message in the Line. My work is inspired by the rich and historic forms and traditions of Chinese calligraphy. Chinese calligraphy is as much a philosophy as it is an art. The process of creating a work begins with mastery of characters and phrases, understanding meanings, history and script styles over centuries. After working with characters in various styles, I deconstruct and construct the abstraction, striving for the composition to evoke the meaning of the underlying characters. I both follow the rules and break the rules, much like in life. There is no effort or intention to create a legible work, but I do respect Chinese artistic and calligraphic composition principles while incorporating some Western art principles. I blend ancient and new, demonstrating timeless themes. Interpretation should be personal to the viewer. I work with traditional Chinese papers, Chinese inks and Western colors.